New bus helps pupils make links

Variety - Mazher Mahmood from Variety charity presents a brand new bus to Forest School in Knaresborough, North Yorkshire.

Published:09:50Tuesday 11 October 2016

Pupils and staff at Knaresborough’s Forest School are celebrating following the arrival of their new minibus.

The brand new, bright and shiny bus has taken pride of place in the school car park after dignitaries from Variety, The Children’s Charity, presented the new bus following a celebratory assembly.

Children cheered as Mahmood Mazhar of Leeds-based company Core Telecom, the main sponsor, cut the ceremonial ribbon that signified the handing over of the bus to the school and Town Crier Roger Hewitt announced its arrival.

“We are also most grateful to The Charles and Elsie Sykes Trust, Knaresborough Youth Links Charity and Belzona who made generous donations to school which enabled us to raise the self funding element of the scheme, along with the many fund raising events run and supported by staff, parents and Governors,” said Headteacher Peter Hewitt.

Mr Hewitt thanked The Variety Club and Core Telecom for their support and explained how the bus would benefit the learning opportunities the pupils could experience and the type of activities that pupils regularly participate in.

These include Duke of Edinburgh expeditions, Woodland Adventure Walking, Riding for the Disabled and visits to outdoor activity centres.

Mr Hewitt added: “Those visits would not happen without us having our own specialist transport.

“The students go to various and wide ranging activities during the school day, after school, and during the school holidays.

“It is vital that our children have ‘real-life’ learning experiences eg learning about money in the classroom is great, but there is no better place to learn such things than the local supermarket and shops.

“We are so grateful for Core Telecom and Variety, The Children’s Charity supporting us in this way. By providing us with a new minibus they have made a significant difference to the learning and lives of our pupils.”

The Forest School caters for children and young people with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities aged 3-16, from moderate to severe learning difficulties.

The mini bus, which is fully adapted, with be able to help with visits to the shops, swimming pools and churches near the school.